Disaster Relief - Sharing an Experience

by Josh
(NC, US)

Well if anyone is in the US and watches the news every now and again they may have heard about the string of storms that ran along the southern states. Here in NC we got the last bit of it before it went north.

Every now and then we get tornado threats, but usually nothing serious. Well this time we had some big ones touch down and leave a path of destruction through a few neighborhoods.

The police departments had access roads to these neighborhoods blocked off I guess to staff off looters and people that just wanted to sight see.

I saw it today, cause I went on a mission with my wife to help out and old friend who's house and yard pretty much got demolished.

Some houses there was really nothing left.

All around were people offering food and water and some supplies. Stacks of debris that had been picked up already lined the roads in piles as high as large sheds. I worked pretty much for the latter half of the day helping pick up trash and downed trees that filled the yard to where you couldn't even see the yard.

Foot by foot it began to clear out until toward the end of the day we reached the fence line with most of everything major picked up and moved to the road for pick up.

There were several people where I was walking around volunteering to use their chainsaws in an attempt to chop things up. That's all you heard all day, trees hitting the ground and the smell of gas constantly for hours.

It was nice to see how much people can do and how fast when they come together for a common cause. I didn't see everything going on cause I myself had my head buried at the ground picking up debris.

With blistered hands, a sunburned body, scratches all over my arms, an over heated body, and a headache, I can say it was well worth it.

A lot was accomplished today, but it's only the beginning for these folks. Their house will need to be rebuilt and a lot of the work that was done to the house and yard before the disaster was done by the husbands own sweat and tears. I know that hurts to see it all gone.

Our help was accepted with much gratitude and shed tears from my friend. An older lady that has always been loving and sweet to everyone she knows. My heart goes out to her and all the others that are struggling at this time of disaster. A lot of people lost everything, including their cars.

Let's have renewed hope in knowing that when it comes down to it and we ban together for a common cause we can accomplish anything and bring joy to those in need.

Unfortunately my wife has all the pictures on her phone while I'm typing this so I can't share those with you.

Love to all,
Josh.